Reserve Officer Program

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a law enforcement officer but never took the path to become one? Many people go off to college and enter into their careers while wondering what it’s like performing the duties of other careers they only dreamed about. The Pierre Police Department is proud to sponsor a program called the Pierre Area Police Reserve Unit for those citizens in the community who dream about or have an instinctive desire to help their community.

Unit Structure

The Pierre Area Police Reserve Unit is a group of volunteer citizens from the area who assist the Pierre Police Department by providing law enforcement services, such as:

Patrol

Security at civic events, such as the Parade of Lights, Homecoming, Oahe Days, etc.

Traffic control

Reserve officers have provided additional manpower when encountering such emergencies as severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. In addition to special events, reserve officers are required to accompany a full-time officer a minimum of eight hours each month, as well as attend the monthly two hour training sessions.

The Application Process

Prior to being sworn in as a reserve officer, candidates must apply, participate in an interview, pass a background investigation, and participate in the selection process similar to full-time Pierre Police Officers. Recruit reserve police officers complete a minimum of 100 hours of training. The recruits who pass all stages of the selection process and training are then sworn in before a judge and are issued their uniforms and equipment.

The Pierre area reserve officers provide a valuable resource to our community that is hard to replace without costing tax payer dollars. If you would like more information about the Pierre Area Reserve Unit or if you are interested in applying to become a future reserve police officer, please contact Administration at 773-7413.Return to Patrol Division Page